Argentina qualifies for final after Dutch draw

Defending champion Argentina qualified for the Champions Trophy final with a 2-2 draw against Olympic gold medalist Netherlands on Thursday.

Written by Associated Press

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Sydney:

Defending champion Argentina qualified for the Champions Trophy final with a 2-2 draw against Olympic gold medalist Netherlands on Thursday, with Noel Barrionuevo converting a penalty corner in the 64th minute to tie the scores.

Australia then beat England 4-0 to set up a clash on Saturday between the hosts and the Netherlands to decide which team will face Argentina in Sunday's final. The Netherlands need only draw to reach the final, while Australia needs a win.

Argentina's Barrionuevo opened the scoring with a penalty corner in the 43rd, but the Dutch hit back as Kim Lammers scored in the 49th and Maartje Paumen scored on a penalty corner five minutes later.

The unbeaten Argentines have 10 points from three wins and a draw.

The Dutch have eight points from two wins and two draws and are one point ahead of Australia, its rival on Saturday.

The Australians got two goals from Nicole Arrold, and one each from midfielder Casey Eastham and Hope Munro.

Olympic silver medalist China and England will play each other on Saturday in the round-robin, and then again on Sunday to decide fifth place. Germany will face Argentina in their final group game on Saturday, and the Germans will be in the third-place playoff against either Australia or the Netherlands.